Story by: Olivia Williams
At least 100 people, among them juveniles, were put under custody by the Clayton County police last week for participating in street racing. A total of 75 adults and 27 juveniles were arrested and charged with loitering. The youngest arrested was 11-years-old.
While street racing is culturally quintessential to street culture across the country, police say these fun-laden activities are dangerous to other road users.
Many of the arrested and those who witnessed the event take place, claimed that the arrests weren't done in accordance with police procedure. Connor Smith, one of those arrested in the operation said, “I didn’t expect to be going to jail, especially over loitering.”
Robert Smith, a parent to one of those arrested said that most of the arrests were unnecessary.
“Those kids sitting there crying. There’s like 17-, 18-, 19-year-old kids sitting in the parking lot crying.”
Many argued that it would have been fair for the police to simply brief them or at least warn them before the arrests.
The Clayton County Police Department disputed these complaints, saying they acted in response to an alarming video that was shot in Henry County and circulated online.
“They had been posting videos on social media. Vehicles speeding, laying drag, driving recklessly,” Clayton County Police Captain Gary Flinn said. "The police response was therefore justified and in harmony with our primary mandate, which is to protect human life and property."
"Just suppose that driver just loses control for a split second and there’s a 100 people standing out there."
Police say only two of the people they arrested were from Clayton County. Some were from as far away as Monroe and Clark counties. They say the goal was to send a message to the public: don’t come to Clayton County and gather for street racing shows like this.